Heating system



Dec- 24, 1963 E. M. BAILEY ETAL HEATING SYSTEM Fiied Jan. 22, 1962 tmwqw J TERM BOILER INVENTORS. [b W/A/MfiA/L EK BYDA V/D YEA/1. E'K

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,303 HEATING SYSTEM Edwin M. Bailey andDavid Y. Bailey, both of 1% W. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ. Filed Jan.22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,687 13 Claims. (Cl. 237-) This invention isconcerned with a new and useful method of heating. More particularly, itis concerned with a method of utilizing heat energy ordinarilydissipated between heating cycles in a low pressure steam heating systemof the type ordinarily used for heating homes and small buildings.

Conventional low pressure steam heating systems com prise a heat sourcewhich heats water in a boiler to produce steam. The steam passes fromthe boiler through a conduit system of pipes to radiators or other heatexchangers within the system where it condenses, giving up its latentheat of condensation to heat the area Where the radiator is located. Thewater formed by condensation of the steam accumulates in the bottom ofthe radiator to a predetermined level and the excess returns to theboiler for reheating. Safe practice requires that the boiler beincompletely filled to a predetermined level to leave a head space inthe boiler above the water to allow for expansion and contraction of thesteam and water. Each radiator is provided with an inlet valve and avent valve. The inlet valve permits substantial closing off of theradiator if desired. The vent valve is usually thermally controlled andclosed during periods when steam is in the radiator in response toincreased temperature of the valve due to the steam. Many vent valveshave a safety device integrated therein so that if undue steam pressureis built up Within the system they vent themselves to relieve thepressure. In ordinary practice, however, they close at preselectedtemperatures and open when the temperature decreases to allow an ingressof air to take up the space previously occupied by the steam.

The heat source is controlled by a temperature device, that is, athermostat, so that it is activated or turned on when the temperature inthe area to be heated reaches a predetermined low level and is turnedoff when it reaches a predetermined high level. The heat source heatsthe water in the boiler to produce steam which is conducted to theradiators to heat the area where the radiator is located. When the areareaches the selected temperature, the heat source is deactivated or shutoff,

steam is no longer generated, the vent valve opens and the radiatorsystem fills with atmospheric air.

In some heating systems, particularly those Where burning coal is usedas the heat source, the heat source operates continuously but only at alow level when the controls do not call for steam in the system. Theheat source is activated to produce more heat and hence steam when thecontrols call for steam in the system. As used in this application andin the appended claims the terms activated and deactivated mean that theheat source is actuated to produce enough energy to force steam into thesystem or that the production of energy is stopped or retarded to thepoint where the system is substantially free of steam.

Heating buildings by steam has several disadvantages due to the inherentproperties of the system. With steam heat the heating is intermittent.After the rooms have become cool, the heat source is activated and someof the water in the boiler is turned to steam which begins to reach theradiators. Thereupon the temperature rises rapidly. When the room wherethe thermostat is located has reached the desired temperature, the heatsource is deactivated, the steam condenses and the radiators and roomsimmediately begin to cool. Often the only Way to avoid the repeatedchills is to set the thermostat higher than best health and eiliciencyof the occupants would dictate. The continual temperature cycling or,alternatively, the maintenance of excessive heat is especiallyintolerable for frail, very young or very old people.

It is often especially difficult to heat distant rooms where the heatmay be most needed. The extra long pipe which would be required to reacha distant room, garage, enclosed porch or other area remote from theboiler may often fail to deliver any steam to its radiators before thethermostat in a more easily heated room has deactivated the heat source.Even if steam reaches the hard to heat areas, the heat may go off beforethese rooms have become thoroughly warm. Often insulation conditions inthe building to be heated are such that intermittent heat will neverkeep some rooms Warm since they cool too rapidly. Mere relocation of thethermostats often does not satisfactorily solve these problems.

The use of vent valves which have preselected or variable venting rateshas partially solved this problem. However, to maintain an eventemperature throughout the Whole building it is necessary to maintain avery delicate balance between the valves in different parts of thebuilding and between valves on radiators fed by a common pipe.Furthermore, the adjustment is difiicult to maintain since changes inthe position of the sun, in wind direction or velocity or other Weathervariables continually alter the relative amounts of heat needed bydifferent rooms.

It is an object of this invention to provide a steam heat system andmethod of heating by the utilization of which it is possible not only tosupply adequate heat to remote hard-toheat areas but also to provide amore constant temperature throughout the whole area served by the systemand thereby to achieve heretofore unattainable economies in steam heatsystems. These and other advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a preferred embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a modification of the invention.

in FIG. 1 a boiler it is shown partially filled with Water 11 which isheated from a heat source 9 controlled by thermostat 8. The upper levelof water is represented by 12 and the head space in the boiler by thenumeral 13. A pipe 14, which opens into the head space, leads from theboiler to the radiator inlet valve 15 and then to the radiator 16. Otherradiators are indicated as attached to the pipe 14 by the symbols 14-1,142 and 14-3. This pipe, which is referred to in the art as a main,serves as a conduit for steam to the radiator and in some systems forreturning water resulting from condensation of the steam. It also servesas a conduit for transporting air which in accordance with thisinvention provides heat for the area normally heated by the radiator 16during the period when the heating system is substantially free ofsteam. The heat source 9 may be understood to be of 3 any of theconventional types which intermittently heat the boiler water to providesteam for the radiator. In conventional installations the heat source isthermostatically controlled but, of course, it may also be manuallyoperated.

On the side of the radiator remote from the inlet valve 15 there isshown in FIG. 1 a vent valve 17 of the cnventional type. A hollow tube18 is in operative communication with the valve and with a centrifugalblower 19 so that there is a complete open system from the head space 13for circulation of air through pipe M, inlet valve 15, radiator 16, ventvalve 17, tube 18, centrifugal blower l9 and then to the area to beheated. Air which is pumped through the system during operation of thecentrifugal blower is vented to the atmosphere through outlet 2t) asshown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 the outlet is shown directing the exhaust airover the surface of the radiator. Alternatively, the outlet could bepositioned to vent the air in any other direction.

The tube 18 may be constructed of any suitable material which is inertunder the conditions of use. Thus it may be metallic, plastic or rubber.Copper tubing, Teflon tubing and natural or synthetic rubber may bementioned by way of example. It may be permanently affixed to the ventvalve, as by brazing or welding, or detachably connected thereto as byforce fit or screw threads. The mode of connection will depend uponwhether it is desired to permanently install the apparatus on a radiatoror to make only a temporary attachment. It is a feature of thisinvention that the means for causing the circulation of air may beconstructed for permanent or temporary attachment to a particularradiator. This is advantageous when it is desired to heat a seldom usedroom in a building. It is particularly useful with upstairs bedroomswhich do not normally present a heating problem during the day but do soat night. The installation used to help heat a downstairs room duringthe day can be affixed to the radiator in an upstairs room at night tomaintain proper heating upstairs without wasting heat energy in heatingthe downstairs rooms which are not in use.

The centrifugal blower or pump 19 is adjusted or positioned to produce avacuum corresponding to a head of from about 0.3 to about 2 inches ofwater. In preferred operations the pump produces a head of from about0.3 to about 0.5 inch of water. The actual head produced is notcritical, it being only necessary that enough suction be created tocirculate a sufiicient volume of air to heat the radiator to which theblower is attached. The preferred head varies somewhat with the distanceof the radiator from the boiler and with the size of the passages in thepipes and valves of the system. A few simple adjustments with differingheads will easily indicate the best suction for a particular radiator.It will be appreciated that other suction means can be utilized toproduce the desired circulation of air. For example, the centrifugalblower of FIG. 1 can be replaced with an axial fan.

It should be pointed out that the tube 18 is not essential to theoperation of this invention. The centrifugal blower 19 or othercirculating means may be directly connected to the valve, eitherpermanently or removably. It is, in fact, possible to operate thisinvention without direct interconnection between the valve and theblower. It is only necessary to position the blower surficiently close,i.e. adjacent the valve orifice so as to effect a suitable head in thesystem.

In FIG. 1 the blower 19 is shown connected through shaft 35 to electricmotor 21 with suitable wires 22 for connection to a power source whichis conventional and not shown. Other known driving means may, of course,be employed.

FIG. 1 shows a blower fan 23 in operative attachment to motor 21 throughshaft 24. The fan 23 is not essential to the proper utilization of thisinvention and may be omitted. When used it serves to increase theefliciency of heat transfer by circulating atmospheric air over thesurface of the radiator which has been heated by the circulation of airwithin the heating system. For compactness and efficiency the fan isshown as operating from the same motor which drives the centrifugalblower. It is, of course, possible to utilize a separate power sourcefor the fan.

The combined motor, blower and fan of FIG. 1 are shown housed in asuitable enclosure generally represented by 25. This housing is notessential but contributes to the appearance of the novel apparatus ofthe invention since it hides the machinery and can be made in anyattractive design. The housing is supported by legs 26 which may be ofadjustable height to allow for ready attachment to radiators ofdifferent dimensions. F or permanent installations the legs may be offixed height or may be entirely replaced with other support means. Forexample, the entire unit may be affixed to the wall by screws.

One wall 27 of the enclosure is of open construction or louvered toallow passage of air to the fan 23. This wall may be hinged to allowready access to the machinery within. The louvered Wall isadvantageously lined With a filter material 2-3, such as glass fiber,which adds to the desirability of the invention by providing a means forremoving dust and other allergens from the air in the area to be heated.

In FIG. 1 the boiler is supported on the floor of the boiler room 29 andthe radiator and enclosure are supported on the floor 39 of the area tobe heated. The motor, blower and fan are supported by support 31 whichis attached to the inner wall 32 of the enclosure. This support may, ofcourse, be affixed to other walls of the enclosure. It may in fact becompletely omitted if the blower outlet 25) and the fan outlet hererepresented by 33, both of which extend through the inner wall 32, areof suitably heavy construction.

FIG. 1 illustrates a steam heating system in which only one pipe or mainleads from the head space of the boiler to the various radiators of thesystem. For operation of this invention with a one main system. theboiler is best provided with an air inlet valve 37 and the outlet valvesof each radiator in the system are of the type which close when thesystem is substantially free of steam. In this manner the air whichenters the system to replace condensed steam enters through the airinlet valve 37 in the boiler. Otherwise the operation of the pump means19 would only serve to pull air through the outlet valves of theradiators of the system and this air would not be warmed by contact withthe hot water in the boiler. With steam heating systems in which thereis more than one main the inlet valve 37 is not essential and may beomitted. The reason is that the operation of pump means 19 on one mainwill suck in air through the outlet valves of radiators on another mainand this air will pass through the head space of the boiler beforereaching the main on which the pumping means are operating. Even with asystem having a plurality of mains it is preferred for operatingemciency to use the air inlet valve 37 and to utilize the valves whichare closed when the system is substantially free of steam. At least itis preferred to use these latter types of valves on the main utilizingthe concept of this invention to minimize the amount of air which canenter the system and be pumped out without contacting the boiler water.

Valves which are closed when the system is substantially free of steamare well. known in the art. Essentially they comprise a valve within avalve. The inner valve closes when the valve is hot due to the presenceof steam. The outer valve is gravity operated and is closed when theinner valve is closed. It is also closed when the inner valve is open.However, the closure means are of light construction and are readilyforced open by the rush of air which is in the system when steam entersto replace this air. A small amount of steam may also escape through theopening before the inner valve closes under the influence of increasedtemperature. It will thus be seen that with valves of this type, airwithin the system may be forced out of the system, but no air can enterthe system through the valve. A valve of this type can even be used on aradiator to which the pump means of this invention is attached providedthat sufficient suction is created by the pump to open the outer valve.Alternatively, the pump means can be attached through a separate orificein the valve.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of thisinvention in which air is circulated through the system by a pump orother known means attached to the boiler and communicating with the airspace. The component parts of this embodiment, which are identical withthe corresponding parts of the embodiment schematically illustrated inFIG. 1, are identified by the same reference numerals with the additionof the subscript a.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a heat source 9a cont-rolled by thermostate 8afor heating water 11a in boiler a. The boiler is filled with water to alevel 12a leaving a head space 1130. A pipe or main 14a communicateswith the head space of the boiler and is shown communicating with aradiator 16a through inlet valve 150. Other radiators may alsocommunicate with the pump as shown in Ma-l, l lo-2 and I ia-35. A ventvalve 17a is shown attached to the radiator 16a at the side of theradiator remote from the inlet valve.

PEG. 2 shows a pump 34 communicating with the head space 13a. This pumpoperates to draw air from the atmosphere and to circulate through thehead space a, the conduit 14a, the inlet valve 15a, the radiator 16a,the vent valve 17a, and finally to the atmosphere in the area to beheated. The vent valve 17a is opened during the period when the pump 34is operating. The pump is shown connected through shaft 35a to motor Ziawhich is connected to a power source for operating the motor throughwires 22a. A fan 23a in operative connection with an electric motor Ziathrough shaft 24a is shown in FIG. 2, although this is not essential andmay be omitted. Wires 22a are shown for connection to a power source.

in FIG. 2 the boiler is supported on the fioor of the boiler room 28aand the radiator on the floor 3% of the area to be heated.

The embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 2 is advantageous in thatonly one blower is required to serve the entire heating system. However,it is not as flexible as the previously described embodi'nent since airis circulated through the whole system rather than to selectedradiators. it may, however, be successfully employed and results inincreased economies compared to steam heating systems which do notutilize the concept of this invention.

The pump 34 can be replaced by a fan which blows air into the boiler. Inthis embodiment the boiler is provided with an air inlet valve whichcloses when there is steam in the system and opens when the system issubstanitally free of stearn. The valve will have a large orifice sothat a useful amount of air can be forced into the head space by theoperation of the fan. The fan or the pump can be thermostaticallycontrolled to operate during periods when the system is substantiallyfree of steam. Thermostatic means are shown in FIG. 2 at 35a. They canalso be manually operated or can operate continuously. If a continuallyoperating pump is used care must be exercised to avoid building upexcess pressure head within the system. This danger can be avoided ifthe system is provided with a suitable safety vent, or if the pump isconnected to the boiler through a valve which closes when there is steamin the system and also vents the air circulated by the pump to theatmosphere during these periods.

The novel heating apparatus of this invention operates to circulate airbetween the periods when steam is actually being delivered to the systemfrom the boiler by the operation of the heat source. During theseintervals the system is substantially free of steam and filled with airwhich enters the system to replace the space occupied by the steambefore condensation, and the water in the boiler, while not producingany substantial amount of steam, is quite hot but has started to cool.It will continue to cool until such time as the heat source for theboiler water is again activated. In the normal operation of conventionallow pressure systems, the heat energy dissipated in the cooling of theboiler water is lost. The method of this invention draws on this heatenergy to provide additional heat to the area served by the heatingsystem by using it to eat air which enters the system and thencirculating this air throughout the system and to the area to be heated.

The means which bring about the circulation of the air are usuallyactivated when the system is substantially free of steam. Activation maybe manual or automatic. Preferably it is automatic and thermostaticallycontrolled with a room type thermostat shown at 36 in FIG. 1. Using thiscontrol method and with individual circulators on each radiator, onlycirculators in those rooms where there is an actual need for heat willoperate. There is no objection to the circulator pump runningcontinuously since the small head necessary for profitable operationdoes not interfere with the vent valves.

In the modification illustrated in FIG. 1, only one radiator is shownoperating in accordance with this invention. Every radiator in thesystem may be similarly supplied or only selected radiators may be sosupplied. Normally the radiators in the hard-to-heat rooms will utilizethe apparatus. Even the warmer rooms, however, can profit by theinvention since, by providing an additional source of heat, theapparatus slows down the normal cooling of the room with the result thatthere is a longer interval between periods when the heat source will becalled into operation. This, of course, effects considerable saving infuel costs. It is also possible to utilize a combination of theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus suction means on the radiatorscan be coupled with means for forcing air into the boiler.

What has been described is an apparatus for heating which comprisescirculating air through a steam radiator system during an interval whenthe heat source is not producing stem, thus taking advantage of theconsiderable amount of heat energy lost by cooling of the water iri theboiler between steam producing periods and effecting marked improvementsin the usual steam heating systems.

While specific embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it should be understood that other modifications andalternative constructions may be used without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. For example, the invention has beenillustrated using a direct heating system in which steam is conducted tothe radiators and condensed water returns to the boiler through one andthe same pipe. The invention is also applicable to the so-calledoverhead system in which steam is initially conducted through a pipe ormain to a point higher than the highest radiator of the system and thenflows down to the radiators where it condenses to form Water whichreturns to the boiler through a separate pipe. It is intended to coverby the appended claims all modifications and alternative constructionsof this invention falling within its spirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, conduit meanscommunicating with said head space for conducting steam to a radiatorsystem, means for periodically heating the boiler to produce steam inresponse to control means and means for circulating air through saidhead space and radiator system when said heat source is inactive therebyto continue to supply heat to said radiator system from heat energyordinarily dissipated through cooling of the boiler water betweenperiods when the heat source is active.

2. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thercabove, conduit meanscommunicating with said head space for conducting steam to a radiatorsystem, means for periodically heating the boiler to produce steam inresponse to control means, means for forcefully circulating atmosphericair over the external surface of said radiator system and means forcirculating air through said head space and radiator system when saidheat source is inactive thereby to continue to supply heat to saidradiator system from heat energy ordinarily dissipated through coolingof the boiler water between periods when the heat source is active.

3. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, conduit meanscommunicating with said head space for conducting steam to a radiatorsystem, means for periodically heating the boiler to produce steam inresponse to control means and means for circulating air through saidhead space and radiator system when said heat source is inactive therebyto continue to supply heat to said radiator system from heat energyordinarily dissipated through cooling of the boiler water betweenperiods when the heat source is active, said air circulating meanscomprising suction means connected through a vent valve in a radiator ofsaid radiator system.

4. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, conduit meanscommunicating with said head space for conducting steam to a radiatorsystem, means Flor periodically heating the boiler to produce steam inresponse to control means, means for circulating air through said headspace and radiator system when said heat source is inactive thereby tocontinue to supply heat to said radiator system from heat energyordinarily dissipated through cooling of the boiler water betweenperiods when the heat source is active, said air circulating meanscomprising a pump attached to said radiator system through the said headspace in the boiler.

5. In a steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containingwater to a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, conduitmeans communicating with said head space for conducting steam to aradiator system and means for periodically heating the boiler to producesteam in response to control means, the improvement which comprisesmeans for circulating air through said read space and radiator systemwhen said heat source is inactive thereby to continue to supply heat tosaid radiator system drom heat energy ordinarily dissipated throughcooling of the boiler water between periods when the heat source isactive.

6. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, a heat sourcefor periodically heating said water to produce steam, a thermostaticcontrol for controlling said heat source, a radiator system comprising aplurality of radiators, each radiator being provided with a vent valve,a pipe interconnecting said head space and said radiators whereby steamis conducted from the head space to the radiators during a period whenthe steam is produced in said boiler, a centrifugal blower, tubing meansinterconecting said blower and at least one of said vent valves, a motorfor activating said centrifugal blower, a thermostatic control withinthe area to be heated by the radiator having a vent varve to which saidblower is connected, said last-mentioned thermostatic control beingconnected to said motor for controlling the operation thereof, and a fanoperable by said motor and adjacent said last-mentioned radiator forcirc-ulating atmospheric air over the external surface of the saidradiator during periods when the centrifugal blower is operating.

7. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, a heat sourcefor periodically heating said water to produce steam, a thermostaticcontrol for controlling said heat source, a radiator system comprising aplurality of radiators, each radiator being provided with a vent valve,a pipe interconnecting said head space and said radiators whereby steamis conducted from the head space to the radiators during a period whenthe steam is produced in said boiler, a centrifugal blower, tubing meansinterconnecting said blower and at least one of said vent valves, amotor for activating said centrifugal blower, and a thermostatic controlwithin the area to be heated by the radiator having a vent valve towhich said blower is connected, said last-mentioned thermostatic controlbeing connected to said motor for controlling the operation thereof.

8. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, a heat sourcefor periodically heating said Water to produce steam, a thermostaticcontrol for controlling said heat source, a radiator system comprising aplurality of radiators, each radiator being provided with a vent valve,a pipe interconnecting said head space and said radiators whereby steamis conducted from the head space to the radiators during a period whenthe steam is produced in said boiler, a centrifugal blower, tubing meansinterconnecting said blower and at least one of said vent valves, and amotor for activating said centrifugal blower.

9. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space there-above, a heat sourcefor periodically heating said water to produce steam, a thermostaticcontrol for controlling said heat source, a radiator system comprising aplurality of radiators, each radiator being provided with a vent valve,a pipe interconnecting said head space and said radiators whereby steamis conducted from the head space during a period when steam is producedin said boiler, a pump attached to said boiler and communicating withsaid head space, a motor for activating said pump for circulation of airthrough said pump, head space, pipe, radiators and vent valves during aperiod when the same are substantially free of steam, a fan adjacent atleast one of said radiators and a nrotor for activating said fan for thecirculation of atmospheric air over the external surface of saidradiator during periods when the pump is operating.

10. A steam heating system comprising a boiler normally containing waterto a preselected level leaving a head space thereabove, a heat sourcefor periodically heating said water to produce steam, at thermostaticcontrol for controlling said heat source, a radiator system comprising aplurality of radiators, each radiator being provided with a vent valve,a pipe interconnecting said head space and said radiators whereby steamis conducted from the head space during a period when steam is producedin said boiler, a pump attached to said boiler and communicating withsaid head space, and a motor for activating said pump for circulation ofair through said pump, head space, pipe, radiators and vent valvesduring a period when the same are substantially free of steam.

11. Auxiliary apparatus for use in connection with a steam radiatorsystem including a steam boiler normally containing water to apreselected level leaving a head space thereabove, means forperiodically heating the boiler to produce steam in response to controlmeans and a steam line joining said head space with radiators in thesytem, said apparatus comprising motor driven air circulating means,means responsive to temperature changes in a space heated by said systemfor activating and deactivating the motor of said circulating means,means admitting air to the head space of said boiler in response tooperation of said air circulating means, wherein the air is heated, saidair circulating means further serving s, 1 1 5, 303 9 10 to conveyheated air from said boiler head space through 13. Apparatus as setforth in claim 11 wherein the air said steam line to at least oneradiator in said system, circulator is adapted for direct aircommunication with and a vent valve on said radiator for exhaustingheated said ven-t valve. air therefrom.

12. Apparatus as set fonth in claim 11 wherein the air References cued mthe file of thls patent circulator is adapted for direct aircommunication with UNITED STATES PATENTS the means admitting air to thehead space of said boiler. 680,471 Armstrong Aug. 13, 1901

1. A STEAM HEATING SYSTEM COMPRISING A BOILER NORMALLY CONTAINING WATERTO A PRESELECTED LEVEL LEAVING A HEAD SPACE THEREABOVE, CONDUIT MEANSCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID HEAD SPACE FOR CONDUCTING STEAM TO A RADIATORSYSTEM, MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY HEATING THE BOILER TO PRODUCE STEAM INRESPONSE TO CONTROL MEANS AND MEANS FOR CIRCULATING AIR THROUGH SAIDHEAD SPACE AND RADIATOR SYSTEM WHEN SAID HEAT SOURCE IS INACTIVE THEREBYTO CONTINUE TO SUPPLY HEAT TO SAID RADIATOR SYSTEM FROM HEAT ENERGYORDINARILY DISSIPATED THROUGH COOLING OF THE BOILER WATER BETWEENPERIODS WHEN THE HEAT SOURCE IS ACTIVE.